Copper theft filed after man caught on railroad tracks

A charge of copper theft was filed Monday after police detained a 57-year-old Rockdale man on the Union Pacific railroad tracks with a six-foot length of cable and a battery-operated saw.

Bond of $ 6,000 was set on Terry Joseph Sider after he was arrested by Ofc. Tommy Shriver.

Police Chief Thomas Harris said Shriver approached the suspect on the Union Pacific tracks near the Dollar General store and found the cable—estimated at 1 to 1-1/2-inches in diameter, then discovered the saw inside a backpack.

“He also recovered a railroad sensor, the kind that’s used to detect approaching trains,” Harris said.

“It was apparent the cable had been pulled out of the ground at one of the signals and then cut off,” Harris said.

Union Pacific officials were notified of the incident.

EVADING ARREST—A 36- year-old man involved in a car chase with the sheriff’s department one month ago is being sought again.

Harris said Curtis Huddleston is being sought in connection with outstanding warrants.

“We received a call concerning a dog fight in the 800 block of Bell,” Harris said. “When the officer checked for warrants on the individual who was there, he went through the house, out the back door and fled over a fence.”

Harris said police are investigating two thefts reported during the week.

He said in one a juvenile was issued a citation in connection with a $50 theft at Dollar General and in another a tailgate was stolen from a pickup on Bell Street.

OFFENSES— Harris said police are investigating a pair of criminal mischief incidents.

One involved a broken window and the other involved damage to a movie rental machine.

Police also investigated two assaults and one incident each of public intoxication, possession of marijuana and criminal trespass.

ACCIDEN TS—Police said there were no injuries in three traffic crashes reported during the past week.

Police said a horse ran into a vehicle belonging to Mario Gonzales of Rockdale at 8:24 p.m. March 7 at the intersection of Oak and White Streets.

Vehicle damages were termed “moderate.”

An unknown vehicle, which left the scene, collided with a vehicle owned by Ashley Prchlik of Austin at 1:51 p.m. Friday, according to police. Damages were termed moderate.

Vehicles operated by Elmer Henson and Christopher Ellis, both of Rockdale, were in collision at 9:45 p.m. Saturday in the Walmart parking lot. Damages were termed “minor to moderate.”

CITATIONS—Police said traffic tickets issued during the week included 19 for speeding, three for expired MVI sticker, two for no liability insurance and one each for running a stop sign, parking violation and expired registration.

One citation each was issued for criminal trespass and animal at large.

Police also served seven warrants, six local and one from Travis County

SERVICE CALLS—Officers responded to 141 calls for service during the past week and received 93 through the 911 service.